0.13.19 — as many columns as fit

Entry lists have a column switch: one, two or three — as many as the screen fits. The reader's choice is saved in the browser and, once signed in, on the account. The trouble was with readers who had not chosen anything yet, which means everyone on a first visit. A list series started with one column, a gallery with two, the stream with one. On a desktop that meant a narrow strip of text in the middle of an empty screen, while the switch next to it offered three.

Since 0.13.19 no choice means “as many as fit”: three columns on a desktop, two on a tablet, one on a phone. This value is not saved. Only what the reader clicks is saved — so the same new reader gets three columns on a computer and one on a phone, rather than one everywhere because that is how the first visit happened.

The series default does not disappear, but it now decides only the first render, before the browser measures the screen. The server HTML has to be the same for everyone, and starting with one column does not jump on phones, where most people read.

Along the way the switch started highlighting what is shown. Choosing “three” on a screen that fits two displayed two columns but highlighted no button. Now it highlights the two — the button says the same as the screen.